Defecating apparatus.



No. 861,932. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. M. ALTOLAGUIRRE & J. ZUBILLAGA.

DBPEGATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 061:;12. 1900.

2 SHEETBSHEBT 1.

THE NO!;?;S PETERS 'cu.. wAsHmcroN', n4 c.

No. 861,932. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907; M. ALTOLAGUIRRE & J. ZUBILLAGA.

DBPEGATING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED 00T.12. 1906.

z sums-sum z.

.hw A 1 uHHHHMGHHH MHWHHHHHMHFuunnnnn munuwuumnnunu 1n: NORRIS PETERS ca, wnsmucrmv, B C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EL PILAR, ARTAMISA,

CUBA.

DEFECATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed October 12,1906. $erial No. 338,599.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARTIN ALTOLAGUIRRE and JOA UIN ZUBILLAGA, citizens of'the United States, residing at Ingenio El Pilar, Artamisa, Cuba, have invented new and useful Improvements in Defecating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Ourv invention pertains to apparatus for defecating cane juice; and it contemplates primarily the provision of a continuously operating defecating apparatus of high efficiency, and one which is well adapted to withstand the usage to which defecating plants are ordina rily subjected, and which requires but a minimum amount of attention while in operation.

The invention also, contemplates the provision in a defecating apparatus of means for expeditiously removing the scum that collects on the juice at intervals during the defecating operation and Without interruption of said operation.

Other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the complete apparatus constituting the present and preferred embodiment of our invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section, of the primary heater comprised in the apparatus, and:

' Fig. 3 is a similar view of the secondary heater of the apparatus.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is a decanting tank which has for its oflice to separate from the juice all particles that are heavier than the liquid when the same is cold. The cane juice after being limed is supplied to the tank A through the pipe B, and by reason of the tank having a series of partitions 0 the juice is compelled to pass through a series of compartments D enroute between the supply pipe B and the eduction pipe E of the tank. From this it follows that the stream of liquid, no matter how large it is, passes from one compartment D to the next in a very thin layer, and as the liquid contained in each compartment is at rest the momentum of the thin layer produces a circular motion at the upper edge of each partition, and at the tangent of such circular motion the heavy particles are thrown down to the bottom F of the tank. This bottom F is preferably of V-shape in crosssection, as indicated in Fig. 1, so as to enable the same to better lead the heavy particles to the valved pipes G, connected to a main H which extends to any suitable point of discharge.

The dotted line in the tank A indicates the level of liquid which is maintained in the tank with a view of preventing air from entering the pipe E and passing there through into the primary heater 1. The eduction pipe E of the decanting tank A is provided at I with a valve through the medium of which the passage of liquid from the tank A to the primary heater 1 may be conveniently regulated.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the primary heater I comprises a casing of sheet-metal having ahorizontal portion a, open at its upper side throughout its area, a leg I) depending from one end of said portion a, a head 0 fixed to the lower end of the leg b and having a plurality of separate chambers c from which extend steam eduction pipes 6 5 d, a head e iixed to the end of the horizontal portionaremote from the leg I) and having a plurality of separate chambers c with which are connected separate steam supply pipes f which may be and preferably are valved, tubes 9, preferably of copper, connecting the chambers of the heads 0 and e and extending vertically through the leg I) and horizontally through the portion a of the casing, a transverse partition h arranged adjacent to the head e and extending a slight distance above the uppermost tubes g so as to form a compartment 11 at the end of the heater casing remote from the leg I), a valved discharge spoutj for scum located beyond the leg I) at one end of the casing, longitudinal, horizontal supports k for the scum-removing blades Z, sprocket belts m carrying the said blades Z and passed around sprocket wheels 8 0 n mounted on shafts p one of which also carries a spur gear 1", Fig. 1, intermeshed with a spur gear s fixed on a shaft t, an opening a formed in the side wall of the easing portion a at a point above the lower stretch of the sprocket belt m and normally closed and controlled by a weighted door 1), and a receiver to positioned at one side of the casing and arranged to receive scum removed through the opening a, and conduct such scum to a suitable point of discharge.

While we have shown but one opening to in the side wall of the casing and one door o controlling said opening, we desire it distinctly understood that a plurality of openings u and doors 1) may be provided at the said side of the casing and arranged to discharge into the receiver 10, without involving departure from the scope of our invention. We also desire it understood that without departure from our invention the opening or openings uand the door or doors o together with the receiver w may be altogether omitted from the heater, and this because the said features are designed to facilitate removal of the scum from the liquid only when the blades Z and the mechanism by which said blades are operated are impaired or out of order. In other words, when it is necessary at intervals during the defecating operation to remove scum from the liquid, the same is accomplished by turning the shaft t and causing the through the arm T for any other treatment that may.

lower stretch of the sprocket belts to travel in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 2, when, as will be readily apparent, the blades 1 moving horizontally on the supports 7c will push the scum before them until the scum reaches the spout j when it will be discharged from the casing. The blades Z may obviously be moved at a considerable speed in a straight horizontal line over the-liquid, and hence it follows that through the medium of the said blades the scum may be expeditiously removed from the liquid at necessary intervals and without in any way interrupting the defecating opera tion.

As before stated the juice enters the casing of the primary heater I through the pipe E, and as soon as it covers the first or lowermost set of heating tubes 9, steam is let into the lowermost chamber 0 of the head a, andas the juice rises in the horizontal portion of the casing, steam is let into the intermediate chamber 0 and the uppermost chamber a in succession, and then the whole body of liquid is heated to 90 degrees centigrade. The liquid is thus brought in thin layers into contact with the sets of tubes 9 while said tubes are cold, and when steam is let into the sets of tubes in succession the liquid is quickly raised to the desired temperature without liability of the liquid being deteriorated. The liquid is compelled to flow over the partition h in order to get into the chamber 1., which assures the supply of clear liquid or juice to the chamberi, and the said clear liquid or juice is taken from the said chamber 6 through tubes K which communicate, below the horizontal portion of the casing, with a pipe L which leads to a small recipient M which, in turn, is connected by a pipe N with the interior of the casing of the secondary heater I. This secondary heater I is similar in construction to the primary heater I with the exception that it lacks the leg b and the features appurtenant thereto. As soon as the liquid reaches the level indicatd by the dotted line in the secondary heater 1, steam is let into the chambers e of the secondary heater and the liquid therein is heated to 96 degrees approximately Centigrade. By

this time scum is formed in both heaters I I and it is then that the blades Z of the scum-removing mechanisms' are put into play and the discharge of the scum from the heaters is effected.

When the juice treated is taken from cane in good condition, the subjection of the juice to the treatment thus far described is amply sufficient to assure the production of clear liquid. When, however, the cane from which the juice is taken is in a burned state or is left standing for a considerable period after being cut we prefer to lead the clear liquid from the chamber 1' of the secondary heater I through tubes a pipe L, a small recipient M and a pipe N into a third or auxiliary heater having a tank R which is preferably upright and cylindrical in form, as shown at the right of Fig. l. The pipe N is provided with a valve S for regulating the supply of liquid to the tank R, and when desired it may be equipped, at a point intermediate the recipient M and the valve S, with a valved arm T. Thus when it is not necessary to subject the liquid to treatment in the tank R, the liquid may be led be necessary in order to fit it for use.

The tank R has a conical bottom, and it contains a cylinder U which is open at its lower and upper ends as shown. Said tank R also contains a circular conduit V which is connected to and arranged to receive from the pipe N and is disposed between the wall of the tank and the cylinder U and has a downwardly directed discharge, whereby the juice is thrown in a fine stream against the outer side of the cylinder, entirely around the same and between the cylinder and the wall of the tank. The tank R further contains a coil W which is designed to be connected at its upper end with a source of steam supply, and has a larger heating surface at its top than at its lower portion. The said coil W has for its ofiice to constantly heat the juice to a point about one or two degrees below the boiling point. The cylinder U in connection with the circular pipe V serves to diminish the momentum of the liquid received in the tank R, and hence contributes to settling of the liquid. The liquid is taken from the tank R at a point within the cylinder U and about five inches below the surface, and it is led to a main and through the same on to triple effects. At its lower end the tank R is provided with a pipe Y having valved arms Z and designed to drain the tank of liquid and sediment whenever the same is necessary. With a view of accelerating the discharge of sediment and liquid from the tank R We provide the same with a circular pipe Z having a downwardly and inwardly directed discharge as shown. This pipe Z is designed to be connected with a source of water supply, and it is employed to put in motion the scum that accumulates in the lower end of tank R when liquid and sediment is drawn from the tank through the pipe Y. At its upper end the tank R is surrounded by a box 12 having a discharge pipe as shown. Into this box is placed the scum taken from the liquid while the same is in the tank R.

In addition to the features hereinbefore referred to in detail, the primary heater I is provided with a valved drain or washout pipe M and the secondary heater I is provided with a pipe M 'for a similar purpose.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that our apparatus is continuous in operation, is calculated to produce a large quantity of clear liquid in a short period, and requires but little attention and effort from an attendant While in operation. In this connectiondt may be stated that when desired the scum-removing mechanisms of the heaters I and I may be actuated by power, in which event no effort will be required from the operator during the operation of the apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a defecating apparatus, an auxiliary heater comprising a tank, a cylinder arranged in the tank and open at its ends, an annular pipe adapted to be connected with a source of liquid supply and arranged in the tank between the wall of the same and the cylinder and having a downwardly-directed discharge, and a steam eoil' arranged in the cylinder.

2. In a defecating apparatus, a heater comprising 2. casing open at its upper side, a plurality of separate steam chambers arranged at the opposite ends of the casing, heating tubes extending through the lower portion of the easing and between two steam chambers at opposite ends of the casing and isolated from all other chambers, heating tubes extending through a higher portion of the casing and between other steam chambers at opposite ends of the easing and isolated from all other chambers, a steam supply pipe connected to one of the two first mentioned steam chambers, a steam eduction pipe connected to the other of the two first mentioned steam chambers, a separate steam supply pipe connected to one of the two second mentioned steam chambers, a separate steam eduetion pipe connected to the other of the two second mentioned steam chambers, and an upright, transverse partition arranged in the casing and receiving the heating tubes and extending above the uppermost of said tubes and forming with 10 one end of the casing a chamber.

In testimony whereof wethave hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN ALTOLAGUIRRE. JOAQUIN ZUBILLAGA.

Witnesses:

ROY H. Nnnny, OLIVER H. HASTINGS. 

